Item number: P-J-21
Black and white batik shirt with red and gold trim brown and white batik sarong. Hair on head and beard.
Wayang golek puppets are rod puppets that have a rod that goes through the body and this rod moves the head. This type of puppet has been made in Indonesia of hundreds of years. Age can be estimated by style of carving and evidence of use for instance, the rods are often jammed into the trunk of a bamboo tree for a performance. The trunk is very soft and the juice of the trunk stains the rod. More use – more stain. Arm decorations are simple on most modern puppets but can be ornate on older ones. All ages are estimates except for two groups that were dated by the sellers in Java.
All puppet were used extensively and so got worn. Repairs and renovations were inevitable. New sarongs, paint jobs , replaced arms, bodies and main rods all were necessary. Dating from only one method is difficult so various methods are used for actually dating these puppets. Some have been bought in sets or partial sets from descendents of “ Dalang “ or puppeteers and the actual dates are known.
Some puppet are very specific in their appearance and role. Others are types and can be used for several persons.
Material: Wood & cloth
From: Java Age: 1945 Price and weight including the stand.
* Hand look like this was intended to be Hanoman. Made just after Japanese left in1945 & used until 1996. |
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